2026 Otago Series Jet Boat River Race

Get ready for one of River Racing New Zealand’s most adrenaline-pumping events — the 2026 Otago Series Jet Boat River Race

Watch the world’s best jet boat crews take on the legendary Dart, Shotover, Kawarau, and Matukituki rivers in a high-speed battle where precision matters just as much as power.

What went down:

* The event kicked off the 2026 River Racing NZ Championship, setting the tone for the season
* Canadian world champion Gord Humphrey, alongside Kiwi navigator Mike Pooley, took the overall win with a clean and consistent performance
* Tight racing early on saw only seconds separating the top crews after the opening legs
* Changing river conditions and cancelled stages shifted the pressure onto the final runs
* The Matukituki River proved decisive, where consistency beat outright speed
* A standout moment: CX Class crew Riley Smith and Scott Smith finished 2nd overall — mixing it with the Unlimited boats
* Across all classes, the biggest factor wasn’t speed… it was avoiding mistakes and costly time losses

What to expect in this video:

* High-speed racing just inches from the riverbanks
* Technical lines through narrow, shallow channels
* Massive rooster tails and close calls
* The intensity of championship racing where every second counts

This is river racing at its finest — raw, technical, and unforgiving.

📍 Location: Otago, New Zealand
📅 Event: 2026 Otago Rivers Race (Round 1 – River Racing NZ Championship)

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@itch